Hailing from the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, Hoist the Colors plays a blend of punk rock, traditional Irish music, Americana, and bluegrass that is as eclectic and original as the city they call home.
Hoist the Colors began humbly, in lead singer and songwriter Josh Linden’s living room in 2007. “A few friends and I were bored and began learning Irish rebel songs and Pogues covers on these acoustic instruments that we really didn’t know how to play,” he recalls. Soon the friends recruited a drummer and fiddle player, began writing their own versions of rebel songs, and started playing at local bars under the name Hoist the Colors. Raucous and spirited performances attracted a loyal following and word quickly spread.
While punk was the common bond that brought the group together, an appreciation for all types of music pushed them to hone their sound and write original material. “We all grew up playing punk rock, but we also had the benefit of being exposed to tons of other types of music,” explains lead singer and primary songwriter Josh Linden. “In addition to bands like Bad Brains, the Descendents, and NOFX, we all love traditional Irish and American folk music, as well as classic American songwriters like Springsteen and Dylan. The beauty of this band is that there is nothing we can’t do, no genre or style we won’t explore.”
